Apples With Calvados And Ice Cream Food

APPLE CRUMBLE ICE CREAM WITH CALVADOS AND CRéME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• 1. To make the crumble, preheat the over to 350°F; position a rack in the middle. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• 2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg until combined. Add the butter and, using a fork, cut it into the mixture until it resembles wet sand. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes, or until chilled. Sprinkle the chilled crumble mixture over the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack and let the crumble cool completely before breaking it into small pieces. Set aside.
• 3. To make the apples, in a saucepan, combine the apples, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and pepper and let the fruit macerate for 30 minutes. Place the saucepan over low heat and cook until the apples are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes. Stir in the calvados; let cool to room temperature.
• 4. To make the ice cream base, pour the milk into a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water). Whisk in 1/2 cup (100 grams) of the sugar and the salt and stir until they have dissolved. Warm the mixture until you see stream rising from the top.
• 5. Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath in a large bowl and set another bowl over it. Set aside.
• 6. In a medium bowl, with a kitchen towel underneath it to prevent slipping, whisk together the egg yolks with the remaining 2 tablespoons (25 grams) sugar until uniform. While whisking, add a splash of the hot dairy mixture, whisking it in bit by bit, until you've added about half. Add the yolk mixture to the remaining dairy mixture in the double boiler. Set the heat under the double boiler to medium and cook the custard, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon and reducing the heat to medium-low as necessary, until steam begins to rise from the surface and the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon. Hold the spoon horizontally and run your finger through the custard. If the trail left by your finger stays separated, the custard is ready to be cooled.
• 7. Strain the custard into a bowl and stir in the crème fraîche. If the mixture seems a bit runny and has lost its thick consistency, return the custard to the double boiler, and cook, stirring, until the custard has thickened enough to coat the back of the spoon. Repeat the finger gap test until the trail left by your finger stays separated. Strain the custard into the bowl sitting over the prepared ice bath, add the vanilla, and stir for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the custard has cooled. Transfer the custard to a quart-size container, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or, preferably, overnight.
• 8. Pour the chilled custard into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Place the container in which you refrigerated the custard in the freezer so you can use it to store the finished ice cream. Churn the ice cream until the texture resembles "soft serve." In the last 30 seconds of churning, add the crumble and the cooked apples. You can also manually fold the crumble and apples into the ice cream. Transfer the ice cream to the chilled storage container and freeze until hardened to your desired consistency. Alternatively, you can serve it immediately-it will be the consistency of gelato. The ice cream will keep, frozen, for up to 7 days.

APPLE CHARLOTTES WITH CALVADOS CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Peel and core apples and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. In a heavy saucepan simmer apples, sugar, Calavdos, and clove for 5 minutes, or until apples are tender but still hold their shape. Stir in raisins.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Butter bread on 1 side. Cut out 4 bread rounds to fit in bottoms of four 1/2 to 3/4-cup charlotte molds or ramekins. Cut 4 rounds the same size as tops of molds or ramekins. Cut remaining 4 bread slices into 1-inch strips. Put bottom rounds, buttered side down, in molds. Arrange strips vertically, buttered sides against inside of molds, slightly overlapping. Press them gently to adhere and trim any overhang flush with rims. Divide apple mixture among molds and top with remaining rounds, buttered sides up, pressing gently. Charlottes may be prepared up to this point 3 hours ahead and chilled, covered.
• Bake charlottes on a baking sheet in upper third of oven 20 minutes, or until bread is golden.
• Spoon a few tablespoons creme anglaise (recipe follows) onto each of 4 dessert plates and invert apple charlottes onto sauce

APPLES WITH CALVADOS AND ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Peel the apples, and cut them into 12 slices, making sure to remove the cores and stems. There should be about 4 cups.
• Melt the butter in a skillet, and add the apple slices and the lemon peel. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, and cook over medium-high heat, gently stirring the apples and shaking the skillet so that they cook evenly. When the apples start to brown, add the Calvados. Turn up the heat, and tilt the pan. Then ignite the sauce with a long match. (The alcohol will burn off quickly.) Blend well.
• Put a scoop of ice cream into each of four individual serving dishes. Pour the apples on top and serve.

ROASTED APPLES WITH CALVADOS AND CINNAMON ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Slice the vanilla bean lengthwise down the center, and use a paring knife to scrape the seeds and pulp into the butter. To make sure not to lose any of the seeds, run your vanilla-coated knife through the butter. Add the vanilla pod to the pan, and cook the butter and vanilla over medium heat 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until the butter browns and smells nutty. Remove from the heat, and discard the vanilla pod.
• Cut the apples in half through the core, and carefully remove the core and seeds with a paring knife (or, for a more dramatic presentation, leave the core and stems intact). Toss the apples in a large bowl with the sugars, brown butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, Calvados, and salt. Arrange the apples, cut side up, in a roasting pan. Top each half with the remaining sugar mixture from the mixing bowl.
• Bake the apples about 40 minutes, basting them with the pan juices every 10 minutes, until the flesh has pulled away from the skin and the apples are tender and carmelized.
• Arrange the warm apples on a large platter, and pour all the remaining juices over them. Serve with cinnamon ice cream and glasses of Calvados.
• Cinnamon Ice Cream
• Place the milk, cream, cinnamon sticks, and ground cinnamon in a medium pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Turn off the heat, cover, and let the flavors infuse about 30 minutes.
• Bring the mixture back to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat.
• Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl. Whisk a few tablespoons of the warm cream mixture into the yolks to temper them. Slowly, add another 1/4 cup or so of the warm cream, whisking to incorporate. At this point, you can add the rest of the cream mixture in a slow steady stream, whisking constantly. Pour the mixture back into the pot and return to the stove.
• Cook the custard over medium heat 6 to 8 minutes, stirring with a rubber spatula, scraping the bottom and sides of the pan. The custard will thicken, and when it's done will coat the back of the spatula. Strain it and chill at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. The base should be very cold before you churn it. Process in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Note
• I like to leave some of the cores and stems intact-the apples are a little harder to eat, but so beautiful that way.

APPLE AND CALVADOS TART (GALETTE DE POMMES AU CALVADOS)

Steps:

• Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a rough 16-inch round (1/8 inch thick), then transfer carefully to parchment-lined large baking sheet. Loosely fold in edge of pastry where necessary to fit on baking sheet, then chill, covered loosely with plastic wrap, 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• While pastry is chilling, peel and core apples, then cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Toss slices with lemon juice and 1/3 cup granulated sugar.
• Put baking sheet with pastry on a work surface and unfold any edges so pastry is flat. Spread applesauce over pastry, leaving a 2-inch border, and top sauce with sliced apples, mounding slightly. Fold edges of dough over filling, partially covering apples (center will not be covered) and pleating dough as necessary. Dot apples with butter, then brush pastry edge lightly with water and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar. Bake galette in middle of oven until pastry is golden and apples are tender, 40 to 45 minutes.
• While galette is baking, melt apple jelly in a very small saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring.
• Slide baked galette on parchment onto a rack, then brush with melted jelly and cool galette until warm or room temperature.
• Beat together cream and confectioners sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until cream just holds soft peaks, then beat in Calvados. Serve galette topped with dollops of Calvados cream.

APPLE CARAMEL CALVADOS CREPES

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, combine flour, milk and egg. Process just until blended. Pour into a pitcher and stir in 2 tablespoons melted butter and the Calvados.
• Place a crepe pan or small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brush with butter. Allow pan to heat for about a minute; if it is not hot enough batter will not spread thinly. Ladle a scant 1/4-cup batter into pan and quickly swirl so batter forms a thin pancake. Return pan to heat and watch for tiny bubbles to form on surface and edges of pancake. Flip pancake; it should be light golden brown. Allow to cook about 30 seconds longer, then transfer to a plate lined with parchment paper. Continue making pancakes, layering each one with parchment. Crepes may be covered and stored at room temperature for up to a day.
• Peel, core and cut each apple in two. Cut the two pieces into four wedges, and cut each wedge crosswise. Place in a saucepan and add lemon juice, butter and sugar. Place over medium heat and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Cover and continue to cook and stir for another 10 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
• In a small saucepan combine the butter, brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes, then add cream and Calvados. Continue to simmer until thickened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
• To assemble, place a room-temperature crepe on a plate. Spoon warm apple filling into center, and fold edges over it. Drizzle warm sauce on top. Repeat with remaining crepes, and serve.

CALVADOS-GLAZED APPLES

Steps:

• Quarter the apples, cut out the cores and trim the ends. Heat the butter in a frying pan and toss in the apple wedges and sage. Cook for 2 mins, then sprinkle in the golden caster sugar and continue cooking for about 5 mins, stirring gently until golden and softened. Pour in the Calvados and cautiously flambé. Season lightly and keep warm until ready to serve.

APPLE BREAD PUDDING WITH CALVADOS SAUCE

Steps:

• Butter a 6 to 8 cup souffle dish or other baking dish.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the apples and sauté about 5 minutes, until the apples start to brown.
• Add 3 tablespoons sugar and sauté a minute or two until the sugar caramelizes.
• Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl and add one half of the Calvados.
• Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter in the pan over low heat and add the bread, tossing for a few minutes until the bread is coated with the butter.
• Spoon half the apples into the souffle dish and top with half the bread.
• Repeat with the other half of the apples and the other half of the bread.
• Put some water on to heat while you fix the cream.
• Place the half-and-half in a saucepan with the vanilla bean and scald and stir in 1/2 cup of sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Remove from heat and whisk a little of the cream mixture into the beaten eggs then slowly whisk the eggs into the cream mixture.
• Strain the liquid into the souffle dish and then dust the top of the pudding with the grated nutmeg.
• Place the souffle dish on top of a kitchen towel in a roasting pan in the oven.
• Pour the simmering water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the souffle dish.
• Bake 40 minutes, until just set.
• Meanwhile, boil the cider until it is reduced by half.
• Sift the remaining sugar with the cornstarch and whisk this mixture into the cider.
• Simmer until thickened, then remove from heat and add remaining Calvados.
• Serve the sauce warm on the pudding.

BROILED APPLES WITH MAPLE CALVADOS SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Toss apples with lemon juice and 2 tablespoons sugar. Melt butter in a shallow baking pan 6 inches from heat. Remove from oven and tilt pan back and forth to coat bottom completely with butter. Arrange apples in 1 layer in pan. Broil apples 6 inches from heat until edges are pale golden and apples are just tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over apples and broil until sugar is melted, 1 to 2 minutes.
• While apples are broiling, boil maple syrup and Calvados 2 minutes.
• Serve apples and ice cream topped with sauce.

CALVADOS ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Pour half and half into heavy medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to simmer. Whisk sugar, yolks and corn syrup in medium heatproof bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot half and half mixture. Return to saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 5 minutes (do not boil). Strain into bowl. Mix in crème fraîche and Calvados. Chill until cold. Transfer to ice cream maker; process according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to covered container; freeze. (Can be made 3 days ahead.)

BAKED APPLES WITH CALVADOS SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/140C fan/gas 4. (When cooked with the fan, it's better to use a lower equivalent heat as the apple skins can burst before the apples are cooked if the heat is too intense.) Trim the bases off any apples that do not sit flat, without removing too much. Insert a small knife about a quarter way down the apple through to the core. Insert the corer at the base of the apple and slide up to the incision, twist the corer, then remove the core, keeping the apple's stalk intact.
• Brush a shallow ovenproof dish with some of the melted butter, then sprinkle over some of the sugar. Brush each apple with the remaining butter, then roll them in the remaining caster sugar. Place the apples in the dish and bake for 30 mins.
• Meanwhile, for the sauce, heat the sugar in a small heavy-based pan over a medium heat until it reaches a dark golden caramel. Stir in the butter and the diced apple. Cook for 30 secs without moving the pan (use a spoon to cover the diced apples in the caramel mixture). Pour in the apple juice and bring to the boil. Stir in the diluted arrowroot, a little at a time, until it has thickened slightly, then remove from the heat and add the Calvados.
• For the garnish, toss the bread with half of the icing sugar, then scatter onto a baking tray. Mix the nuts, Calvados and remaining icing sugar together until well combined, then spread onto the same baking tray, mixing with the bread. Bake for 8-10 mins, stirring halfway through, or until the nuts and bread cubes are golden brown. Set aside to cool. 5 To serve, place one baked apple into the centre of each of 4 serving plates. Spoon the Calvados sauce into the centre and around the apple, then sprinkle over the toasted garnish.

SORBETS DE POMMES CALVADOS (APPLE SHERBET W/CALVADOS)

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the sugar and 2 cups of water to a boil.
• Add the apples, lemon zest and lemon juice.
• Simmer for 45 minutes over low heat, or until the apples are tender.
• Remove from heat and cool completely.
• When cooled, puree the mixture in a blender of food processor or, my preference, with an immersion blender.
• Add the Calvados.
• If you are using an ice cream maker, first chill the mixture for at least three hours. Then, pour into your machine and process for 30 to 40 minutes, or until creamy.
• Freeze until ready to serve.
• If you are using your freezer, Place the mixture in the freezer.
• As soon as it begins to freeze, take it out and beat the mixture vigorously by hand for 1 minute.
• Return to the freezer and repeat the process one or two more times at thirty minute intervals.
• Keep frozen until ready to use.